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Beak to Beak


Beak to Beak
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1990-08
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Ecuador [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-20 15:37
Viewed: 757
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is another scanned slide, taken with a Pentax SFX, 70 - 210 lense and Agfa 100asa slide film.

The Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii, is famous for two reasons: its link to Charles Darwin's expedition to the Galapagos Islands, and its name. The name does in fact have a somewhat silly meaning: The word "booby" comes from the Spanish "bobo," meaning "stupid fellow," and was probably inspired by the bird's clumsiness on land and apparently unwarranted bravery. (It is extremely vulnerable to human visitors because it does not appear to fear them.) A tropical seabird with famous bright blue webbed feet, a brown and white-streaked head, blue-grey facial skin, and a solid white body, it may approach 1.5 meters in wingspan. The bird itself is a little under a meter long (about the size of a goose), with a long curved neck. They can live as long as 17 years.

The Blue-footed booby is skilled hunter in the air and on water despite its awkward gait on land, they feed solely on fish. Flying over the water, generally no higher than 25 meters, it keeps its bill pointed downward, poised for action. When it spots a fish it breaks into a graceful dive, making almost no splash as it enters the water, then popping up on the surface a few feet away clutching its meal in its beak. The bird is such an accurate dive bomber that it has even been known to catch flying fish mid-leap. Unlike other boobies, the Blue-footed booby can also dive from a floating position on the surface of the water.

The Blue-footed booby prefers to eat alone, but it is not entirely opposed to group dining and occasionally hunts cooperatively in flocks. When a member of the flock spots a fish, it whistles to alert the others, and the entire flock descends, perfectly synchronized, on its unlucky prey. Males are smaller, and thus tend to stick with shallow dives closer to shore, while heavier females make deeper dives offshore.
nglen, PaulH, falke, parthasarathi, garyfudge, claudine, uleko, ramthakur, delic, SelenE, Jonas_Schmitt_ has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-05-20 15:46]

great colors nice focus and wonderful action capture

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2007-05-20 16:01]

Hi James. this is a interesting shot. dont see many on TN. nice pose form the birds and good timing on your part. with good colour and fine detail. great notes again. thanks.well done TFs.
Nick..

very nice photo

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2007-05-20 16:28]

Hi James,

I never tire of seeing those blue feet! You're lucky to have been to such an amazing and intriguing place, James. Excellent timing and great POV, good job.

tfs,

Paul

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 17 N: 443] (1590)
  • [2007-05-20 17:20]

Wow, what a beautiful photo. I really like this one, the birds pose of course but also the bird themselves with these beautiful feet makes this special! There is a little lack of sharpness but I guess that's because of the scanning and it does not affect the overall impression of this amazing photo!

TFS / Bengt

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-20 22:45]

Hello James

You have captured them blue footed...A super shot of these two,the image is well focused with sharp details and lovely colours.Excellent POV and DOF,the plumage shows really well.Nicely illuminated.Very good composition.TFS

Where next?

Rob

Well taken pix and a good note.Thanks for your effort and providing such good pics in TN. Regards,

Morning James,

just got back off night-shift and checking out good old TN and there's this image.
I've read about these and they are magnificent. I love the shot, the transfer from slide has worked well.
It's given me a smile for the day!

Gary

Hello James,
They certainly are much interesting birds and this is a very good capture of this funny couple :) I like this movement caught, beautiful POV, exposure and composition. This is well done and useful again :)
Claudine

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2468 W: 168 N: 7464] (23588)
  • [2007-05-21 13:03]

Hello James,
This is a lovely shot and you're very lucky to have seen this beautiful Blue-footed Boobies which I've always wanted to see! Excellent composition showing good colours and very fine sharp details. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-05-22 12:01]

Hello James,
As you can see, I'm following your trail slowly but surely. Another unique photo, this time from Galapagos. Love the gentle touch in this picture, and those blue feet of course. A great moment...
Best wishes,
Hakan

Missed out a couple of your recent posts and chose to go here first, James.
What beautiful birds you have captured in Eucador! The slide is very well scanned and the original magic of it is well retained.
A superb image, accompanied by a highly informative note on the species.
Thanks and best regards.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2351 W: 61 N: 3811] (12226)
  • [2007-05-28 4:39]

Hi James,
I was away last week and I have missed this one. Your timing is very good, the pose looks beautiful. TFS
Cheers,
Selen

Hi James!
Nice picture,you caght those birds in the exactly right moment!
Tfs,Jonas

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